HC Deb 21 March 1895 vol 31 cc1569-70
DR. KENNY (Dublin, College Green)

I beg to ask the Postmaster General, whether he can state, with some degree of definiteness, when he will be able to announce his decision on the tenders of the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company for the accelerated mail service between Kingstown and Holyhead?

MR. ARNOLD MORLEY

I am still in negotiation with the City of Dublin Steam Packet Company, and am awaiting a further communication. I am unable to fix a date for making a definite announcement.

DR. KENNY

Is it not the fact that the Steam Packet Company are awaiting a communication from the right hon. Gentleman?

MR. ARNOLD MORLEY

No, Sir, I am now awaiting a reply to a letter which I sent yesterday.

MR. ARTHUR O'CONNOR

On behalf of the hon. Member for West Cavan (MR. VESEY KNOX) I beg to ask the Postmaster General, whether he will endeavour, in connection with some proposed changes in the Time Table of the Midland Great Western Railway, to arrange for a connection between the limited mail service from Dublin passing Inny Junction, and Cavan, and Killeshandra, whereby the mails could be much accelerated; and, whether he can say what would be the cost of transmitting mails to Dublin by the goods train leaving Cavan by the Midland line at 9.30p.m.?

MR. ARNOLD MORLEY

The, Day Mail now arrives at Cavan at 11.20 a.m., and it would not arrive until 12.36 p.m. if sent via Inny Junction. I understand that the Midland Great Western Railway Company do not contemplate any alteration at present in their train service to Cavan. As regards Killeshandra, the Day Mail now arrives at 2.19 p.m., and includes letters from Belfast, Scotland, &c., as well as from Dublin. A Day Mail, from Dublin, arriving at 12.47 p.m., might be afforded, but as such a mail would not include a considerable number of the letters arriving in the present mail, it is doubtful whether the arrangement is desirable. Further enquiry, however, shall be made on this point. The additional expenditure involved in forwarding a mail to Dublin, from Cavan, by the Midland Goods Train at night, would not be very large, but the change would be attended with some disadvantage, and the question, therefore, requires fuller consideration. I will communicate further with the hon. Member when the necessary enquiries have been completed.